Top Tourist Destinations for Summer Vacation in India

Daily writing prompt

What is your favorite season of year? Why?

By Kavita Dehalwar

India, a land of diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a plethora of options for summer vacations. From the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas to the serene beaches of the south, and from the lush green valleys of the northeast to the royal palaces of Rajasthan, every traveler can find something to their liking. Here are some of the top tourist destinations for a summer vacation in India.

1. Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Why Visit?

Nestled in the Kullu Valley, Manali is a haven for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. The cool climate, picturesque landscapes, and vibrant culture make it an ideal summer getaway.

Top Attractions

Rohtang Pass: A high mountain pass offering breathtaking views and snow activities.
Solang Valley: Famous for adventure sports like paragliding, zorbing, and skiing.
Hadimba Temple: An ancient temple surrounded by cedar forests.

2. Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir

Why Visit?

Known as the “Land of High Passes,” Ladakh is renowned for its stunning landscapes, clear skies, and unique Buddhist culture. It’s a paradise for trekkers and nature enthusiasts.

Top Attractions

Pangong Lake: A mesmerizing lake that changes colors from blue to green to red.
Nubra Valley: Famous for its sand dunes and double-humped Bactrian camels.
Leh Palace: A historic palace offering panoramic views of the Leh town.

3. Darjeeling, West Bengal

Why Visit?

Often referred to as the “Queen of the Hills,” Darjeeling is famous for its tea gardens, scenic beauty, and pleasant weather. The colonial charm and vibrant Tibetan culture add to its allure.

Top Attractions

Tiger Hill: Offers a spectacular view of the sunrise over the Kanchenjunga range.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: A UNESCO World Heritage site, offering a nostalgic toy train ride.
Batasia Loop: A scenic spot with a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.

4. Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Why Visit?

Situated in the Nilgiri Hills, Ooty is a popular hill station known for its tea plantations, lakes, and colonial architecture. The cool climate and lush greenery make it a perfect summer retreat.

Top Attractions

Ooty Lake: Ideal for boating and picnics.
Botanical Gardens: Home to a variety of exotic plants and a 20-million-year-old fossilized tree.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway: A charming toy train ride offering scenic views.

5. Munnar, Kerala

Why Visit?

Munnar, located in the Western Ghats, is famous for its tea gardens, misty hills, and exotic wildlife. The cool climate and serene atmosphere make it a popular destination for honeymooners and nature lovers.

Top Attractions

Eravikulam National Park: Home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and offering breathtaking views of the tea gardens.
Mattupetty Dam: A perfect spot for picnicking and boating.
Tea Museum: Showcases the history and process of tea production in Munnar.

6. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Why Visit?

Rishikesh, located on the banks of the Ganges River, is known as the “Yoga Capital of the World.” It offers a unique blend of spirituality and adventure, attracting both pilgrims and thrill-seekers.

Top Attractions

Laxman Jhula: A famous suspension bridge with a mythological significance.
Triveni Ghat: Known for the evening Ganga Aarti.
River Rafting: An exhilarating experience on the rapids of the Ganges.

7. Coorg, Karnataka

Why Visit?

Coorg, also known as Kodagu, is a charming hill station known for its coffee plantations, scenic landscapes, and pleasant climate. It’s a perfect destination for a peaceful and rejuvenating vacation.

Top Attractions

Abbey Falls: A picturesque waterfall surrounded by coffee plantations.
Raja’s Seat: Offers stunning sunset views and a panoramic view of the valley.
Dubare Elephant Camp: An opportunity to interact with elephants and enjoy a wildlife safari.

8. Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh

Why Visit?

Pachmarhi, often referred to as the “Queen of Satpura,” is the only hill station in Madhya Pradesh. It is known for its lush greenery, waterfalls, ancient caves, and colonial-era architecture. The cool and pleasant climate makes it an ideal summer retreat.

Top Attractions

Bee Falls: One of the most popular waterfalls in Pachmarhi, Bee Falls offers a refreshing escape with its cascading waters and scenic surroundings.
Jata Shankar Caves: A sacred cave believed to be the place where Lord Shiva concealed himself from the demon Bhasmasur. The cave’s natural rock formations resemble the matted hair of Lord Shiva.
Dhupgarh: The highest point in the Satpura range, Dhupgarh offers panoramic views of the surrounding hills and valleys. It is a perfect spot to witness breathtaking sunsets.
Pandav Caves: These ancient rock-cut caves are believed to have been the abode of the Pandavas during their exile. The caves are an important archaeological site and attract history enthusiasts.
Apsara Vihar: A beautiful natural pool with a small waterfall, ideal for a refreshing dip and a picnic spot.

Activities

Trekking and Hiking: Pachmarhi offers numerous trekking trails that take you through dense forests, waterfalls, and viewpoints.
Wildlife Spotting: The Satpura National Park, located nearby, is home to a variety of wildlife including leopards, bison, and numerous bird species.
Boating: Enjoy a peaceful boat ride on the serene waters of Pachmarhi Lake.

Cultural Experiences

Colonial Architecture: Explore the remnants of British-era buildings and churches, which add to the charm of this hill station.
Local Cuisine: Savor the flavors of Madhya Pradesh with local delicacies like poha, jalebi, and bhutte ka kees.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Pachmarhi is from October to June when the weather is pleasant and suitable for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

How to Get There

By Air: The nearest airport is Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal, approximately 195 km away.
By Train: Pipariya railway station, located about 47 km from Pachmarhi, is the closest railhead.
By Road: Pachmarhi is well-connected by road, with regular bus and taxi services from major cities in Madhya Pradesh.

Pachmarhi, with its natural beauty and serene environment, offers a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Whether you’re a nature lover, an adventure enthusiast, or a history buff, Pachmarhi has something to offer. Add this gem of Madhya Pradesh to your summer travel itinerary for a memorable and rejuvenating vacation.

Conclusion

India offers an incredible array of destinations for a memorable summer vacation. Whether you seek adventure in the mountains, relaxation on the beaches, or cultural experiences in historical cities, there’s something for everyone. So, pack your bags and get ready to explore the diverse and captivating landscapes of India this summer!

Menstruation & It’s Taboos

N kavya

The menstrual cycle is a part of your reproductive system. Menstruation is the monthly shedding of the lining of your uterus. The menstrual blood which is partly blood and partly tissue from the inside of your uterus flows from your uterus through your cervix and out of your body through your vagina.

It has been said that during those days the tradition started for a good reason as women go through heavy cramps, PMS (premenstrual syndrome), headaches, stomach aches, mood swings, etc. Women were being isolated from their family and given complete rest in a separate room, as time passed the traditions became aggressive and gave more stress associated with myths, or misconceptions and taboos to women than being supportive to them during their menstrual cycle. Women are not allowed to enter the temples, in many households’ girls are subjected to many superstitious practices such as; prohibition from entering the kitchen and prayer room, being made to stay in a separate room, being forced to eat in separate utensils, and in some houses, the girl is provided the left-over food. Not being allowed to touch certain kinds of food because they could get spoilt, and tagging the girl as impure and unclean. The stigma associated with a woman bleeding every month leads to poor hygiene among a large section of rural women who use wood husk, leaves, paper, and other such materials instead of sanitary napkins when on their periods. The temple in Assam ‘Maa Kamkhaya’ where the main deity is the uterus of a woman signifies the importance of reproduction and the menstrual cycle is completely natural. In India, some school girls were allegedly forced to remove their underwear to prove they were not menstruating. The girls also reported that they were barred from touching other students during their menstrual cycle.

These social stigmas isolate the girls from family and friends which increases their stress levels and impacts their mental health. As per the survey in India, only 48% of adolescent girls are aware of what menstruation is before getting their first period, which is unhygienic for their health due to a lack of proper sanitation facilities. Young people do not have access to reliable and correct information about their reproductive health and rights. The lack of acceptance and the taboo associated with it leads the girls to stay at home due to anxiety and embarrassment… An overall lack of scientific knowledge about menstruation also gives way to myths and misconceptions. During previous centuries, there were many rules followed due to some circumstances but following those rules in this period seems unreasonable.

Girls must be given proper menstruation knowledge before they get their first period because many girls do not have the knowledge about how their body works and provide free napkins to the government schools. The main development goals must include an equal opportunity for education for girls and boys and access to proper sanitation. The media creating public awareness regarding these issues would break the taboo prevailing in society. The movie ‘Pad Man’ starring Akshay Kumar and Radhika Apte which speaks about the importance of women’s menstrual health is notable. To cross these barriers government, NGOs, corporate companies, and media and entertainment industries must collaborate and take advantage of each other’s capability and influence to achieve this vision.

Horticulture

The science and art of growing, producing, marketing, and utilizing high-value, intensively grown food, and ornamental plants in a sustainable manner is known as Horticulture.Annual and perennial plants, fruits and vegetables, decorative indoor plants, and landscape plants are all examples of horticulture crops.

Horticulture farming also aims to enhance the quality of life, as well as the beauty, sustainability, and recovery of our ecosystem and the human condition.
Horticulture is divided into the cultivation of plants for food (pomology and olericulture) and plants for ornament (floriculture and landscape horticulture). Pomology deals with fruit and nut crops. Olericulture deals with herbaceous plants for the kitchen, including, for example, carrots (edible root), asparagus (edible stem), lettuce (edible leaf), cauliflower (edible flower buds), tomatoes (edible fruit), and peas (edible seed). Floriculture deals with the production of flowers and ornamental plants; generally, cut flowers, pot plants, and greenery. Landscape horticulture is a broad category that includes plants for the landscape, including lawn turf but particularly nursery crops such as shrubs, trees, and vines.

Temperate zones for horticulture cannot be defined exactly by lines of latitude or longitude but are usually regarded as including those areas where frost in winter occurs, even though rarely. Thus, most parts of Europe, North America, and northern Asia are included, though some parts of the United States, such as southern Florida, are considered subtropical. A few parts of the north coast of the Mediterranean and the Mediterranean islands are also subtropical. In the Southern Hemisphere, practically all of New Zealand, a few parts of Australia, and the southern part of South America have temperate climates. For horticultural purposes altitude is also a factor; the lower slopes of great mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas and the Andes, are included. Thus, the temperate zones are very wide and the range of plants that can be grown in them is enormous, probably greater than in either the subtropical or tropical zones. In the temperate zones are the great coniferous and deciduous forests: pine, spruce, fir, most of the cypresses, the deciduous oaks (but excluding many of the evergreen ones), ash, birch, and linden.

There is no sharp line of demarcation between the tropics and the subtropics. Just as many tropical plants can be cultivated in the subtropics, so also many subtropical and even temperate plants can be grown satisfactorily in the tropics. Elevation is a determining factor. For example, the scarlet runner bean, a common plant in temperate regions, grows, flowers, and develops pods normally on the high slopes of Mount Meru in Africa near the Equator, but it will not set pods in Hong Kong, a subtropical situation a little south of the Tropic of Cancer but at a low elevation.In addition to elevation, another determinant is the annual distribution of rainfall. Plants that grow and flower in the monsoon areas, as in India, will not succeed where the climate is uniformly wet, as in Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Another factor is the length of day, the number of hours the Sun is above the horizon; some plants flower only if the day is long, but others make their growth during the long days and flower when the day is short. Certain strains of the cosmos plant are so sensitive to light that where the day is always about 12 hours, as near the Equator, they flower when only a few inches high; if grown near the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn, they attain a height of several feet, if the seeds are sown in the spring, before flowering in the short days of autumn and winter. Poinsettia is a short-day plant that may be seen in flower in Singapore on any day of the year, while in Trinidad it is a blaze of glory only in late December.

The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature.

To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.

General issues on Environmental ecology

The environment plays a significant role to support life on earth. But there are some issues that are causing damages to life and the ecosystem of the earth. It is related to the not only environment but with everyone that lives on the planet. Besides, its main source is pollution, global warming, greenhouse gas, and many others. The everyday activities of human are constantly degrading the quality of the environment which ultimately results in the loss of survival condition from the earth.There are hundreds of issue that causing damage to the environment. But in this, we are going to discuss the main causes of environmental issues because they are very dangerous to life and the ecosystem.

Pollution – It is one of the main causes of an environmental issue because it poisons the air, water, soil, and noise. As we know that in the past few decades the numbers of industries have rapidly increased. Moreover, these industries discharge their untreated waste into the water bodies, on soil, and in air. Most of these wastes contain harmful and poisonous materials that spread very easily because of the movement of water bodies and wind. Greenhouse Gases – These are the gases which are responsible for the increase in the temperature of the earth surface. This gases directly relates to air pollution because of the pollution produced by the vehicle and factories which contains a toxic chemical that harms the life and environment of earth. Climate Changes – Due to environmental issue the climate is changing rapidly and things like smog, acid rains are getting common. Also, the number of natural calamities is also increasing and almost every year there is flood, famine, drought, landslides, earthquakes, and many more calamities are increasing.

Development recognises that social, economic and environmental issues are interconnected, and that decisions must incorporate each of these aspects if there are to be good decisions in the longer term.For sustainable development, accurate environment forecasts and warnings with effective information on pollution which are essential for planning and for ensuring safe and environmentally sound socio-economic activities should be made known.

THE EARTH IS WHAT WE
ALL HAVE IN COMMAN

Plato and his allegory of the cave.

Plato was born in Athens, Greece, around 429 B.C. He was expected to become a politician by his family but he chose not to for two reasons and took the road of philosophy and mathematics. The first reason was the Peloponnesian War where he found out that some of his relatives were part of a dictatorship and were removed for corruption. The second reason was the death of Socrates who was the biggest influence in Plato’s life. Socrates was executed by the new Athenian government. Plato started writing and became a philosopher. He studied under Pythagoras in Sicily. After returning from there, he founded The Academy, a place where he and other people discussed philosophy and mathematics to come to better conclusions.

Plato’s allegory of the cave proves the power of reasoning over the senses. Personal human experiences will not amount to the truth. Proper philosophical reasoning is the only way to find the truth. To understand his allegory of the cave, you first need to understand his theory of forms. So Plato states that reality exists on two specific levels. First is the visible world which has sight and sound. Second is the intelligible world which gives the visible world its being. For example, when a person sees an ugly face he’s quickly able to identify its ugliness of it. Because in his mind he has an idea of ugly that allows him to point out ugly. He was able to spot the ugliness because he has an abstract idea of what ugliness is. The current state of that ugly face might change in the future because everything keeps changing in the visible world but the form of beauty, ugly etc is eternal and never changes. This is the theory of forms.

Coming onto the theory of caves, The allegory of caves was a conversation between Socrates and Plato’s brother, Glaucon. Socrates asks Glaucon to imagine a world where illusion is believed to be reality. To prove his point further, he asks him to imagine a scenario where there’s a cave and 3 people are locked up inside the cave since their birth. Their necks and legs are chained and cannot escape from the cave. They can only see what is in front of them. Behind and above the prisoners is a fire, and between the fire and prisoners, there is a low wall from where people walk with objects in their heads. Now, these prisoners can only see the shadow of the object and therefore they believe the shadow to be the real form of the object. Because the prisoners have never been exposed to real objects, they start to believe that the real form of that object looks like a shadow. If a shadow of a hammer were to appear, they’d believe the shadow of the hammer to be the real hammer. They are not saying that it’s a shadow because in their reality no shadows exist. They think it’s an actual hammer. One of the prisoners will eventually be able to understand the nature of this illusionary world and would be able to guess what shadow will come next. This will lead to him being praised by the other 2 prisoners.

Suppose, one of the prisoners is set free. He escapes the cave and gets to see the world. He gets angry and frustrated after seeing the real world because he believes the cave illusion to be his reality. When his reality is disproved, he becomes angry, sad and frustrated because he is now forced to believe something else and step out of his comfort zone. Eventually, he’ll be able to make sense of what he has seen and accept that the cave illusion was not his reality. He has now accepted that his past was based on a lie and that is not the way he should perceive things going ahead because he has now found out that it was all an illusion. He goes back to the cave to tell the other prisoners about the real world. When he tells them whatever he has witnessed, they don’t believe him and threaten to kill him if he tries to free them. They are so comfortable in their fake reality that they don’t even want to make the effort of exploring a new possibility because that might lead them out of their comfort zone and face chaos. People mistake what is in front of them as reality and choose to live in ignorance. And when parts of the truth start to emerge in front of their eyes, they get frightened. Because that threatens their ignorant reality. However, a person who pays attention to these flashes of truth and is open to the idea of exploration will always have a better understanding of the world around him. Always aim for reasoning rather than simply believing what seems easy to believe.

*I was influenced to write this article after coming across the book Philosophy 101 by Paul Kleinman*

Henna and its medicinal benefits.

The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the dieseases .

In East Asia countries henna has a prominent role in any celebration or occasion. It shows the richness of an east Asian culture with beautiful designs on hand. It’s scientifically termed Lawsonia Inermis.
Its earliest known usage was in Egypt around 1200 BC, when pharaohs’ hair and nails were dyed, as well as when they were being mummified. It was even rumored that Cleopatra personally decorated her body with henna.
The natural cooling action of henna, which gives skin a pleasant tingling feeling, maybe its most well-known feature (similar to chewing spearmint gum and drinking cold water). When this virtue was found, desert dwellers began using henna to keep their bodies cool. They created an air-conditioning effect by creating a henna paste and applying it to oneself. For as long as the henna stain lingers on the skin, the feeling is felt all over the body. The henna streaks were quickly transformed into works of art by the desert inhabitants. As a result, the tradition of henna emerged.
Coming to its benefits it has long been used medicinally, including as a poultice to treat burns and dermatitis and as a coagulant for open wounds. Ringworm and other microbial or fungal skin problems can be treated topically using fresh herbs. Henna’s benefits for heart health are among the least recognized. You can experience a hypotensive impact from henna water or seeds, which reduces stress on the cardiovascular system and significantly decreases blood pressure. Limiting the accumulation of plaque and platelets in the artery and cardiovascular can help prevent heart disease.
Moreover, henna has long been associated with bringing affection, wealth, and protection from wealth. It is true when one says the best medicine is usually what nature provides.

India’s Most Beautiful Botanical Garden You Must Visit

A botanical garden is an educational and research facility that grows plants such as ferns, conifers, and flowering plants. The purpose of these gardens is not to provide flowers for entertainment, which is what parks and pleasure gardens provide. But more often than not, plantations are designed for the purpose of generating shade and services for public parks, as well. A botanic garden that specializes in trees is sometimes referred to as an arboretum. Sometimes, you can find them in zoos. A unique laser show is featured in Nashik’s botanical garden, the only one in Southeast Asia of its kind. The botanical gardens in India are typically maintained by research institutes, universities, or other organizations.

We’ve put together a list of some mesmerizing botanical gardens that offer something for everyone

Government Botanical Gardens, Ooty

Government Botanical Garden was first constructed in 1848 near Coimbatore (Ooty), Tamil Nadu, India, by architect William Graham McIvor. The garden has a terraced layout and is located 2,200 m above sea level in the Nilgiri hills. The garden is maintained by the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department. There are around 1,000 species of plants, shrubs, ferns laid out in an Italian style, trees, herbs, several lawns with flowering plants, ponds with lilies, and bonsai plants in the Gardens, including exotic and native species. Located in the Garden’s middle is a fossilized tree trunk that is estimated to be 20 million years old. The Gardens also consist of a variety of medicinal plants.

The Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Kolkata

A wonderful garden that stretches across 150 hectares was constructed in 1787. It is situated in Shibpur, Howrah near Kolkata. This garden has the unique privilege of having famous botanists, scientists, and taxonomists as its superintendents. On June 25, 2009, the Garden was named the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden in honor of Jagadish Chandra Bose, the Bengali polymath, and natural scientist. It is under the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. There are more than 2,500 species of trees and shrubs in the open areas of the garden. Plants of the screw pine genus are also often found here, as well as orchids, bamboo, and palms. Jackals, Indian mongooses, and Indian foxes are among the animals that live in the Botanic Garden. One of the main attractions at the park is the 250-year-old Banyan tree, which occupies about 4 acres of the park.

Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Bangalore

Located in Bengaluru, Lalbagh Botanical Garden is an ancient botanical garden. Originally laid out in the 1760s, the garden was designed by Hyder Ali. Plants of both ornamental and economic value are introduced and propagated in this garden. One of the most appealing features of the garden is the glasshouse. In addition to providing a social function as a park and recreation area, the glasshouse was also a place where flower shows were held. There are two flower shows celebrated during Republic Day week (26 January) and Independence Day week (15 August). Lalbagh has good bird watching opportunities, both on the ground and in the lake. Additionally, a “Garden centre” is available here for citizens to purchase ornamental plants.

Lloyd’s Botanical Garden, Darjeeling

It is located at an altitude of about 2,100 meters in the middle of the Himalayas and is a garden of 24 acres that was established in 1878. It is one of India’s most picturesque botanical gardens. Over 1,800 exotic botanical species are located in the garden, including a living fossil tree and the Ginkgo biloba, plants that date back thousands of years.

Pollution a reality of today

Pollution has became a part of our life. It has became the reality whether we accepted or not. We have to now keep air purifier to purify the air inside our house. Just think of the level of destruction in has caused to just as well as to nature.

We have reduced the resources of nature or either we have misused the resources of nature for our own benefit. We youmans are so selfish that for our benefit we can even take away the things which are meant for everyone. Like we have polluted so many rivers which has caused death to so many aquatic animals that we can’t even imagine of.

We have polluted the air quality so much that we are now facing difficulty to breathe ourselves. We have caused pollution in air, water, soil, noise whatnot. Just think it yourself.

Now there are so many activist and NGOs are coming ahead for cleaning up the message that has been spread by us only. But it is not enough. To remove Facebook devil from our mother nature each and everyone have to contribute towards this.

We can take small steps like using public transport instead of personal one for travelling which will reduce the air pollution. There is no need of very much big-big steps to be taken a small step by each individual is enough for cutting this pollution into half.

It is our nature and we should use net sustainabily so that it is available for other animals and future generation as well.

Mother Nature

Mother nature the word we often come across but we don’t give much importance. In this context nature has been given in the respect of a mother. But as we all know that a mother’s presence is so much in a life that at a point we start to ignore her little little things done for us. Similarly we have forgotten the importance of mother nature too.

Just think if we don’t have this nature what would happen of us. None of us would have been alive. We should not be so thankless towards nature who has always helped us in all aspects.

Instead of respecting nature as mother we have started exploiting it. We are taking the resources from nature but we are not giving anything bad to her free just want to full feel handbag letting hands empty.

This change we cannot bring all alone we need the support of all us, but everything starts with a single step if even one starts to respect or do something towards nature everyone else would join. The need of today’s just that one step.

Just take care for nature as if you are caring your own mother then you will start experiencing an aura of happiness. Nature is our everything and we are because of nature so please protect mother nature and mother earth.

Plastic A Modern Devil

Plastic the most dangerous and harmful enemy of our environment. It is killing mother nature and our health too. We take plastic bags from shop and don’t realise that we are actually taking home a devil who will cause harm to not only nature but to us too.

A normal plastic takes about 1000 years to decompose. Just think about it that a single piece of plastic take such long years to decompose, the level of plastic which we are using today will take how many years to decompose. It is choking our water organisms life. It is also choking are animals who eat food from the garbage like the cow, dogs, cats etc.

The youth are taking responsibility reduce the use of the plastic and organising campaigns and webinars to create awareness among people to not use plastic or use decomposable plastic. The big companies are taking responsibilities to to recycle plastic and many new forms has also set up for this purpose.

Even the government have started realising the need to protect our environment and nature. International organisations like UN has also so so called for an international cooperation in this matter.

There are many innovative way in which the plastic are being reused like in making bricks, floor, dolls, chair, etc. Forest sustainable future we have to look into this matter with utmost seriousness. This earth belongs to everyone and we have no right to miss you or destroy any element on this earth.

Northeast India an Untouched Heaven

Northeast India of you may be familiar with others might not have given attention in the geography class. North East India consists of eight States Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The states are much closer to the name nature as compared to other states. The people here live a mostly tribal but they are friendly too. These states were always neglected form development for many years. They are discriminated because of their looks. Many North East Indian student face racist comments on daily basis.

And since the outbreak of COVID-19 their situation is becoming worse. They were beaten , were called coronavirus, where spit up on, even the shopkeeper refuse to sell their products to them.

The we treated like they don’t belong to this country. This is really shameful act. It doesn’t mean that I am pointing out each and everyone and saying that they are racist, but there are some Anti Social people who are racist.

There are many examples where North East people have brought glory to our country whether it is Mary Kom,Hima Das, Mirabai Chanu ,Baichung Bhutia, Lovlina borgohain, etc. Slowly their understanding their right and are coming up in in all the field, but there is a long way to go. And it’s our responsibility to treat every being with respect and should at least know about one own country’s geography.

Now new development projects are taking place in North East too. The act is east policy which will connect India to Southeast and East Asia.

They are famous for other things too like Assam is famous for its tea, which is considered to be the most expensive tea in the world. Sikkim is famous for its cleanliness and organic farming. Meghalaya for receiving the highest rainfall in the world. Tripura for producing sports stars and hand-wovencottonfabric and woodcarvings.Meghalaya is famous for manipuri dance and bamboo forests. Mizoram for it’s evergreen Hills and dense forest of bamboo. Nagaland for which tribal culture and the hottest chilli in the world, the ghost paper. Arunachal Pradesh also known as the Rising Sun of India famous for Buddhist temple, Brahmaputra river and beautiful green forests.

If you are a person who loves nature and adventure, and want to take a holiday and relax then North East is a must visit place for you. It will provide you with the opportunity of river rafting mountain climbing trekking etc. You will definitely not regret it.

Places to visit in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand

Almora district is a district in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand state, India. The town of Almora is surrounded by Pithoragarh district to the east, Garhwal region to the west, Bageshwar district to the north, and Nainital district to the south. The landscape of Almora attracts tourists each year for its views of the Himalayas, cultural heritage, handicrafts, and cuisine, and is a business hub for the Kumaon region.

Almora has attracted several eminent people through the ages, including Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Uday Shankar, and his troupe, and Ravi Shankar, who contributed to the cultural enrichment of the town. Govind Ballabh Pant noted freedom fighter was born in Almora. Former Indian Captain and ace cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni has ancestral roots in Lwali village in Almora. The town also serves as the starting point for many treks like Jageshwar, Pindari, Mornaula, Mukteshwar, Binsar, and Ranikhet among others.

The place owes its name to “Kilmore” a tiny plant found in the nearby regions, used for washing utensils of Katarmal sun temple. The people who used to bring the plant were referred to as Kilmore or Almora. Hence, the town came to be known as Almora or Almoda.

Places to visit –

Chitai Golu Devta Temple

Presided by the deity of Golu Ji, an incarnation of Lord Shiva in the form of Gaur Bhairav, the Chitai Temple is recognized by the number of copper bells hung in its premises. Although there are many temples of Golu Devta in Almora the Chitai Golu Devta Temple is the most sacred one.

Kasar Devi

Kasar Devi is a village near Almora, Uttarakhand. It is known for the Kasar Devi temple, a Devi temple, dedicated to Kasar Devi, after whom the place is also named. The Kasar Devi temple offers a pleasant view of the Almora city and Hawabagh Valley. In the 1890s Swami Vivekanand came to this temple for meditation.

Dunagiri

Dunagiri temple is located 14 km far from Dwarahat. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Durga. It is believed that when Hanuman Ji was carrying the mountain with ‘Sanjiwani buti’ for Laxman, a piece of it fell here and since that day this place is known as ‘Doonagiri’ (‘giri’ meaning fell).

Jageshwar

One of the finest examples of architecture in Uttarakhand, Jageshwar Dham is a group of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Jageshwar temple site attracts many pilgrims and visitors every day. Many complete a part of the post-cremation last rites after the death of a loved one at the Jageshwar temple site.

Binsar

Binsar is a small town adorned on the hills of Kumaon. Binsar is known for offering spell-binding views of the majestic Himalayan peaks such as Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Panchauali, and Kedarnath. This compact hill town is encircled by the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary which serves as a habitat for the rare animals, birds, and flower species. It is the best place for experiencing adventurous hiking and camping.

Katarmal Sun Temple

Katarmal Sun Temple is considered the second most important sun temple in India after Konark Sun Temple (Orissa). It is believed to be the only sun temple located in the hills. The Katarmal Sun temple is a unique cluster of temples that is the tallest temple in the Kumaon region. Inside the main temple along with the statue of Vraddhaditya, other deities are also present. The locals believe that this shrine is significant for two reasons. One, this is the only Sun temple in the hills, and second, in February and November, the sun rays fall directly on the deity making it an extraordinary sight.

Butterflies🦋

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Have you ever seen a baby butterfly? Me neither because they don’t exist🤭. Butterfly is the adult form of caterpillar. But who gave butterflies the right to be this beautiful🥺, they are a treat to eyes. All the colors they display with so much variety in shapes and patterns is just breathtaking. They indicate biodiversity but sadly the change in climate and the shift in weather is slowly making these creatures to go extinct. Since, they are known to react quickly on climate change and to see them struggling to survive is a serious indication and warning of global warming.

let’s look at some amazing facts about butterflies.

Butterflies can fly with a speed of 12 miles per hour.Their size can differ from as tiny as 1/8 inch to a huge 12 inches.

Their wings are made up a substance called chitin and are transparent in real. All the colors we see are a reflection of various colors through the thousands of scales present in them.

There are about 24,000 butterfly species on this earth. Antarctica is the only place to be devoid of their presence.

The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is located in Mexico. Millions of butterflies travel from Texas. The trees are filled with butterflies and appear orange in color. The goal of reserve is to protect the butterfly species and their habitat.

They have their taste receptors on their feet. Their legs help them in locating the best plants and are evn used by them to choose plants for laying eggs.

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Their average lifespan is of a 3-4 weeks. One species of butterfly lives only upto 24 hours and some migratory butterflies can live for about 8 months.

Butterflies are cold blooded hence, require ideal settings. They can’t fly if their temperature is less than 85 degrees. Some species migrate to warm places when the temperature begins to drop.

Butterflies are health conscious and so they follow liquid diet. Lol. Actually they don’t have the necessary apparatus that helps in chewing instead they have a straw like structure that helps them in sucking nectar from flowers.

Their wings are a great defense against enemies. All the color and patterns are actually to scare predators away. And also they have 4 wings not 2. Forewings, that are close to the head and hindwings, at the back.

India Of My Dreams.

The India of my dream would be a country where women are safe and walk freely on road. Also, it will be a place where there is freedom of equality to all and everyone can enjoy it in their true sense. Furthermore, it would be a place where there is no discrimination of caste, color, gender, creed, social or economic status, and race. In addition, I see it as a place that sees an abundance of development and growth.

Women Empowerment

There is a lot of discrimination against women. But, still, the women are stepping out of their houses and making a mark on different fields and on society. In addition, there are a lot of areas that need to be worked upon whether it is female feticide or restricting them to the household task. Besides, many NGO and social groups have come forward to promote women empowerment.

However, we have to work hard to change the mindset of society. I dream India as a country that sees women as its assets, not as liabilities. Also, I want to place women on an equal level as men.

Education.

Though there are many initiatives by the government to promote education. But there are many people who do not realize its true importance. The India of my dream will be a place where education will be mandatory for all.

Employment Opportunities.

Although there are many educated people in India. But, due to corruption and many other reasons they are unable to get a decent job. Besides, there are many employment opportunities in the country but they are either limited or don’t pay well enough. One of the reasons for this is weak industrial growth in the country.

In addition, reservation is a hindrance in this path as most of the deserving candidates lose their good opportunity because of it. Many of these deserving candidates go abroad and work for the economic growth of other countries. The Indian of My dream will be a place where the deserving candidate will get the job first rather than reserved candidates.

Caste Discrimination

Though India got independence in 1947, still we are not able to get complete independence from the caste, religion, and creed discrimination. It is shameful to see how in certain parts of the country the people of the lower section of the society are denied the basic rights.

However, there are various social groups that speak for their rights and help them to oppose this oppression. Besides, I dream of an India where there is no discrimination of any kind.

Corruption.

Corruption is one of the major reasons that are hindering the growth of the nation. Instead of making an effort to serve the growth of the country the officials and politicians are busy filling their own pockets. So, I dream of an India where the minister and official are dedicated to their work and wholly for the development of the country.

In conclusion, the India of my dream will be an ideal country where every citizen will be equal. Also, there is no discrimination of any type. In addition, it will be a place where women are seen as equals to men and respected equally.

India of my dreams……… Where the bell of happiness rings,where the birds in harmony sings.

. —“Shumayla Mallick”………

Places to visit in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand, a state in northern India crossed by Himalayas , is known for its Hindu pilgrimage sites. The state is popularly known as the “Devbhumi” known as “Land of Gods”. It is divided into two regions—Garhwal in the north, and Kumaon in the south. Each of these offers plenty of opportunities for adventure, sightseeing, wildlife and tourism.

Rishikesh, a major centre for yoga study, was made famous by the Beatles’ 1968 visit. The city hosts the evening Ganga Aarti, a spiritual gathering on the sacred Ganges River. The state’s forested Jim Corbett National Park shelters Bengal tigers and other native wildlife.

For those who seek adventure tourism, Uttarakhand offers some incredible trekking and mountain climbing opportunities. Here are six places to visit in Uttarakhand if by any chance you are in mood of taking your mind off and just want to enjoy the nature.

Haridwar

It is situated on the right bank of the holy Ganga and is regarded among the seven sacred cities of India. Haridwar is also, the gateway to the four major pilgrimages – the Char Dham – Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. It’s particularly popular with Hindu pilgrims who come to take a dip in the holy waters of the Ganga River and wash away their sins.

Rishikesh

Rishikesh, not located far from Haridwar, is also known as the “Yoga Capital of the World” because of the large number of ashrams teaching meditation and yoga. For the adventurous, Rishikesh is the place for starting their trekking expeditions and excursions towards the Himalayan peaks.

Nainital

Nainital is one of the most popular hill stations in India, located in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. It is surrounded by seven hills and snow-capped peaks. Nainital is an all-year destination but the weather is best between March and June.

Dehradun

Dehradun also spelled Dera Doon, is the capital of Uttarakhand and a lively city surrounded by charming views of the mountains of Mussoorie. It is primarily known for the number of elite boarding schools it has like Doon School and the Indian Military Academy. March to June is the best time to visit and to beat the summer heat as the weather is pleasant.

Mussoorie

Mussoorie, known as the Queen of the Hills, and famous for its scenic beauty, is located 34 km from Dehradun. Mussoorie gets its name from the Mussoorie plant that grows in abundance here. It is famous for its scenic beauty and superb view of the Himalayas. If you want to see snowfall, you can visit during the winter months.

Jim Corbett National Park

One of India’s most popular national parks, Jim Corbett National Parks is named after hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett. Located at the Himalayas foothills, near the popular hill station of Nainital, is famous for being home to a large number of tigers. The park is explored by jeep safaris. It offers the best chance of animal sightings. And if you are lucky, you might spot a tiger.

There are many other places to visit such as Almora, Auli, Chopta, Munsiyari, Kausani etc.

Watching Clouds : A Mindful Activity

Clouds are beautiful, aren’t they? A clear blue sky with cotton white clouds is one of the prettiest views you can see from your balcony. Maybe it sounds silly but staring at a sky with clouds is indeed a great mindful activity. Watching the clouds go by with winds makes you think about those unsaid thoughts and at some level helps you to self-introspect. It somewhat like meditation.

In a life full of tasks and duties, take some time off and try cloud watching and you will realize how a simple activity like this relaxes your mind.

As Italians say, dolce far niente is equally important in our everyday lives. Dolce far niente means the sweetness of doing nothing. (This does not mean being lazy) The real meaning behind this is finding pleasure in doing nothing or relaxing.

This may sound easy but it is not. In today’s world when staying away from our phones and laptops seems like a tremendous job. How can someone enjoy the art of doing nothing.

Cloud watching is one of that ‘ art of doing nothing’ activities. Just sit down outside or take a walk outside and during this time try to appreciate those white coloured clouds in the sky. It may sound like a small activity but I think it makes a real difference.

Feel free to try out this mindful activity because it is free of cost 🙂

Amazing Animal Friendships

Sea Urchins & Crabs

Crabs carry sea urchins on their backs. The sea urchins are sometimes poisonous and hence provide both protection and because the sea urchins are above the crab, the crab is perfectly secured from the predators. In return, sea urchins get free rides underwater.

Wolves & Hyenas

As wolves have excellent hunting skills, they help the hyenas to hunt. The hyenas in return help the wolves to find the prey by their excellent olfactory skills and ability to rip off the bones of the prey.

Oxpecker birds & Zebra

Oxpecker birds help the zebra by eating the ticks from the zebra’s body. The zebras get rid of the evil pests from their body and in return, the birds get a delicious meal to fill their appetite.

Also, when these birds sense any type of danger (predators) near, they give out a warning call to the zebra to save themselves.

Crocodiles & Egyptian plover

These Egyptian plovers help the crocodile by cleaning their gums from leeches, as the leeches cause infection to the crocodiles and in return, the Egyptian plovers get some amazing meal for them.

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Warthogs & Mongooses

These Warthogs are groomed by the mongooses. The mongooses pick off the insects from the warthog’s body and feed them themselves and return the warthogs is free from the depraved insects.

Gobies & Pistol Shrimps

The gobies and the pistol shrimps are the perfect examples of best roommates ever. The Pistol shrimp digs a cave in the ground where Goby and the pistol shrimp would stay and in return, the goby alerts the shrimp from the predators so the shrimp can hide. Also, it has been noticed that the goby brings algae for shrimps to eat.

Humans & Honeyguides

In South Africa, the tribal communities are guided by these honeyguide birds to the honeycomb in the forest. These honeyguides help these tribals to find the honeycomb and in return, the tribals give the birds a part of the honeycomb to feed on it.

A TREAT OF HEAVEN

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLAND

In this blog, I am going to take you to the middle of the sea. Wondering where? The island which is very famous because of our freedom fighters where they had to spend years behind the bars. Yes, you are guessing right, I am talking about Andaman and Nicobar Island. This place is heaven on the earth if you haven’t visited yet after reading this blog about Andaman and Nicobar Island, I am sure that you all will be going to book your tickets now! So, let’s start our online trip to Andaman and Nicobar.

I am going to talk about the places where I had visited in Andaman and Nicobar.

Havelock
Neil island
Cellular Jail
Ross Island

Havelock is the spotlight of the Andaman and Nicobar tourism, it is very famous for the beaches and greenery, in short, it is the feast for the eyes. Clyster clear water, white sand will definitely soothe your eyes. In 2018 our prime minister Narendra Modi has changed the name of havelock to swaraj deep. Yes I know you all want to know how to reach there, you have to book ferries and it will take 90 min to reach there. Places to visit in havelock are:

RADHA NAGAR BEACH:

Radha Nagar beach is one of the most well-known beaches in Andaman and Nicobar and the best beach in Asian described by the Time magazine. sky blue sea with crystal clear water and white sand where you and enjoy your day you can play in the water you can swim in the water you can also take sun-bath there. There are large numbers of huts, benches and wooden chairs where you can sit and relax there and can enjoy the beauty of nature.

They also provide you with changing rooms where you can change you wet cloths.

ELEPHANT BEACH

Don’t judge this place by its name, you might be thinking that there must be many elephants but it is not like that. Elephant beach is very famous for water sports, it gives you numerous water activities. Let’s discuss in more details about water sports.

SCUBA DIVING :

In scuba diving, you are taken under-water where you can see the breath-taking view of aquatic life. You can see untouched coral reefs, vibrant fishes, under-water vegetation and under-water ecosystem.

SNORKELING :

Snorkelling is little bit same as scuba diving but it doesn’t allow you to go deep inside the water, you can only go to the surface of the water and can see through your goggles, and also can swim.

SEA WALKING:

Yes, you heard right you can walk under the sea, sea walking is most unique and very adventurous. Diving and swimming are okay but have you ever imagined walking under the sea. Once you reached the bottom of the sea you will see that you will get surrounded by hoards of fishes you can actually feed them, isn’t it really exciting?

It is another island full of beaches, this island is for those who want to be far from noise, disturbance as you can find a smaller number of vehicles, market and less population. Here also you can find water sports activities like jet skiing and a glass bottom boat ride. Let me make you more clear about these water sports.

JET SKIING:

Jet skiing is one of the most enjoyable water sports activity as it can be enjoyed by anyone and it is available at Bharatpur Beach in Neil. It will give you a unique feeling that you are riding a bike on water. Timing for this activity is from 9AM to 4PM. I personally advise you to book jet ski as it is always available and t is cheaper than other water sports activities.

GLASS BOTTOM BOAT RIDE:

this activity is appropriate for those who don’t want to get wet or doesn’t want to go into the water. By the name itself, it is clear that you will be travelling on a boat which will have a see-through glass from which you can see the underwater life, you can see fishes, corals and many more.

Cellular jail is one of the most historic monuments in Andaman and Nicobar, also known as kaala Pani, it will definitely give you goosebumps while exploring the jail. Every wall of the jail will tell you the story of our soldiers. There you will see how much sacrifice has been done by our freedom fighters. Britishers used to send the soldiers in this whenever they try to protest against them. You can visit the jail at 9AM to 12:30PM and 1:00PM to 5PM (except on Mondays and on national holiday)

Cellular jail will provide you light and sound show, in this you will get narrated the whole story of how freedom fighters lived there how they survived there and how has been treated there. It is a must-watch show. The show is in both Hindi language and in the English language. You can enjoy this show at 6PM (Hindi) and 7:15PM (English).

The one who is a nature lover, Ross island is a perfect place to visit. There you are surrounded by nature. There you can see animals and the best part is that they are not caged they will roam here and there. You will see rabbits, deer, peacocks roaming here and there and you can experience the beauty of the nature. You can sit there for hours in cool breeze and can also enjoy the beach view. In 2018 our Prime Minister Narender Modi has changed the name of Ross Island to Netaji Shubhas Chandra Bose island.

Next question you all will get that how one can reach there?

You can get a boat from phoenix bay jetty and it will help you to reach in 15 mins, the people over there will provide you with a life jacket also or else you can choose a helicopter tour.

Yes, this is the short and adventurous trip of mine to Andaman and Nicobar, I am sure that after reading this you will definitely plan your future trip to Andaman and Nicobar. I personally suggest you to visit Andaman and Nicobar during summer months.

Where does the smell of rain comes from?

Ever experienced smelling that calm and earthy fragrance coming from the dry ground when it is raining? I bet all of us are attracted to that pleasant odour.

Matter of fact there is a term used for that particular smell it is called Petrichor.

But why are we all are such a fan of petrichor and where does petrichor arises from?

Scientists detected that the earth smell or petrichor come from the organic compound called Geosmin, which is actually produced by microbes of the genus Streptomyces. Also, the interesting fact is Streptomyces produces Geosmin when they are dying.

So, the question arises what makes the produce Geosmin when it starts raining? And are we the only species who love the smell of petrichor?

An insect called Springtails like humans also loves the smell of petrichor. Springtails have antennae and they can sense the Geosmin produced by the Streptomyces and this helps Springtails to find the Streptomyces and later consuming them as their food.

But why would any creature produce a smell so that it could get eaten by another creature?

The thing is Streptomyces wants to be eaten by the Springtail so that after they are eaten and Springtails defecates. The spores of Streptomyces can proliferate further via the faecal pellet of Springtails. So, here we can understand how the Streptomyces are reproducing asexually.

All of this is actually a part of the lifecycle of Streptomyces.

Isn’t it amazing how nature works?

Next time when you smell petrichor remember there is a whole feast happening for the Springtails in that ground below you also the circle of rebirth for Streptomyces is also circling.

Importance of Trees

From childhood, we’ve heard that trees are our satisfactory pal however in realistic existence, we didn’t see anyone who treats trees as their pals. Even though they may be the most treasured existence supply on the earth. They benefit each life form in a direct or oblique way. And the earth is connected to them to maintain a herbal balance. In this essay on store trees, we are discussing the reason why our buddies want saving.

They nourish us and defend us in lots of approaches. Additionally, they keep our environment inexperienced and smooth. So, it becomes our duty to pay off them for the matters they do for us by way of saving them. Except, massive timber are extra useful than small ones due to the fact they capture greater carbon, seize greater water, combat the heat, clear out greenhouse gases, offers refuge from warmth and daylight, and so on. So, it may be stated that we depend on them extra in preference to they on us.

Benefits and significance of trees
As we have mentioned the advantages of trees in quick however right here we’re going to speak about them in element. Flora and bushes fight the climatic modifications which might be destroying the earth. In addition they clear out the air that we breathe and soak up all the damaging chemical gases and odors from the surroundings. Additionally, they soak up the damaging carbon dioxide and offers out oxygen.

They may be true for the diversity of flora and fauna. They give us meals, safe haven and many more things that we can’t matter. Besides, they in no way demand something from us and also save you soil erosion, water evaporation. Peculiarly, they manage and manipulate the consequences of wind, sun and, rain.

Why should we save trees?
The human has turn out to be aware and severe about this problem and started doing the nice they are able to do to store bushes. The woodland departments and authorities have banned the unlawful slicing of trees. And they are going virtual as a way to shop paper for you to reduce the range of trees reduce down for making paper.

Other than that, the wooded area area after reducing of bushes need to be replanted with new ones. Also, we must train our youngsters to plant trees and ask them to pass it on their pals and buddies.

The least that we will do is to plant a few pots in our home rooftops or lawn and ask our neighbor to do the same. Additionally, if we see the removal of a tree then we ought to inform the neighborhood authority approximately it to create consciousness. Specially, strict laws have to be made for people who illegally or without permission reduce those trees for his or her personal blessings.

The numerous existence form is able to live to tell the tale on this planet because of flora. If we dispose of plant life from the earth even for sooner or later then the survival of guy turns into difficult.

Besides, they’re the supply of water and clean oxygen on the planet. Cutting of trees will lead to destroying the human existence on the earth. So, the time has come that we to be aware of the problems we will be facing due to large deforestation and we should start taking preventive measures to stop it.

YOGA – NATURAL IMMUNE BOOSTER

A Better Body Image

Yoga develops inner awareness. It focuses your attention on your body’s abilities at the present moment. It helps develop breath and strength of mind and body. It’s not about physical appearance.

Yoga studios typically don’t have mirrors. This is so people can focus their awareness inward rather than how a pose — or the people around them — looks. Surveys have found that those who practiced yoga were more aware of their bodies than people who didn’t practice yoga. They were also more satisfied with and less critical of their bodies. For these reasons, yoga has become an integral part in the treatment of eating disorders and programs that promote positive body image and self-esteem.

Becoming a Mindful Eater

Mindfulness refers to focusing your attention on what you are experiencing in the present moment without judging yourself.

Practicing yoga has been shown to increase mindfulness not just in class, but in other areas of a person’s life.

Researchers describe mindful eating as a nonjudgmental awareness of the physical and emotional sensations associated with eating. They developed a questionnaire to measure mindful eating using these behaviors:

Eating even when full (disinhibition)
Being aware of how food looks, tastes and smells
Eating in response to environmental cues, such as the sight or smell of food
Eating when sad or stressed (emotional eating)
Eating when distracted by other things

The researchers found that people who practiced yoga were more mindful eaters according to their scores. Both years of yoga practice and number of minutes of practice per week were associated with better mindful eating scores. Practicing yoga helps you be more aware how your body feels. This heightened awareness can carry over to mealtime as you savor each bite or sip, and note how food smells, tastes and feels in you mouth.

A Boost to Weight Loss and Maintenance

People who practice yoga and are mindful eaters are more in tune with their bodies. They may be more sensitive to hunger cues and feelings of fullness.

Researchers found that people who practiced yoga for at least 30 minutes once a week for at least four years, gained less weight during middle adulthood. People who were overweight actually lost weight. Overall, those who practiced yoga had lower body mass indexes (BMIs) compared with those who did not practice yoga. Researchers attributed this to mindfulness. Mindful eating can lead to a more positive relationship with food and eating.

Enhancing Fitness

Yoga is known for its ability to soothe tension and anxiety in the mind and body. But it can also have an impact on a person’s exercise capacity.

Researchers studied a small group of sedentary individuals who had not practiced yoga before. After eight weeks of practicing yoga at least twice a week for a total of 180 minutes, participants had greater muscle strength and endurance, flexibility and cardio-respiratory fitness.

Plastic- Inseparable part of our lives

Imagine thousands of plastic bags floating around you forever

Inventions and discoveries lay a tremendous impact on the human race and development. Yet, few human creations can metamorphose into a curse. Nearly a hundred years ago, humanity created the most durable and cheap material -plastic. In a flash, plastic reached the deepest trenches, in the air we breathe and even in our stomachs. Barely 10% of the plastic we produce gets recycled whereas, the rest of the plastic contributes to climate change. Today these estimations may seem ordinary numbers, yet incautious measures can lead to the extinction of our race. Unbelievably we produce 3,000,000 plastic bottles in just 60 seconds; how horrifying is that? Our irrational use of plastic has affected the abundance of the entire ecosystem. The fishes are floating at the brink of extinction. We are the ones to condemn; hence it is our responsibility to wonder about potential solutions. Binish Desai-the recycle man has that solution. Amidst the Covid pandemic, the masks and PPE kits have made their way to the oceans. Binish Desai came up with an extraordinary idea to make eco-bricks out of them, recently introducing ‘Brick 2.0’. Furthermore, hundreds of women have started using menstruation cups to limit the plastic waste created by sanitary pads. Therefore, together we can beat plastic pollution. The story of our ecosystem is a tale older than ours. The majesty and abundance of the creatures out there are beyond our foresight. Each creation is unique and a mystery for us. Yet, our reckless management of plastic and other resources has affected the entire ecosystem. Our environment would collapse before we get a chance to know everything about it. Hence, together we need to think of solutions. We know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; only be transformed. Similarly, nothing is a waste in nature; scrap produced today can be transformed into something productive tomorrow. Together we can build a sustainable future if we start recycling now. A very efficient way to cease plastic pollution is brand audits and cleaning drives. They help to collect plastic and hold the brand guilty of who created the plastic waste in the first place. The most generous aid we can give to the ecosystem is minimizing plastic usage from our surroundings. We can switch to a bamboo toothbrush and go for a waterless car wash. In addition, social media gives us a platform to contribute even in this pandemic. Social media let us share and debate upon solutions in an efficient way. Furthermore, we need to consider that we are genius at planning; however, we fail to execute our solutions. Discussing the solutions will only help us when we work upon them. Hence, always try to buy products of brands that believe in sustainability. Together let us unwrap the layer of plastic we laid on our mother Earth. Remember tsunami of throwaway plastic is awaiting us tomorrow if we stop recycling. “Only when the last tree has died, the last river has flourished, we will realize that we cannot eat the money”. Your contribution matters!

Climate Change

The phenomenon of rising temperatures of the Earth resulting in change of climate, seasons, rainfall patterns etc. is called Global warming. Global warming and its effects are together referred to as Climate Change. While these changes have been seen before but the rate of change has increased rapidly from the middle of the 20th century. Findings from different recognized scientific organizations support these claims. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “human influence on climate has been the dominant cause of observed warming since the mid-20th century”. The emission of greenhouse gases as a result of human activities have been one of the largest causes for this. Fossil fuels, Chloro-fluro carbons (CFCs), deforestation, rise in different forms of pollution are all behind this.

Temperature change is also accompanied by loss of snow cover, melting permafrost, frequent natural disasters like cyclones. Land surfaces heat more quickly which have resulted in heat waves, forest fires, increase in desert area. These temperature changes are the highest in the Arctic region. Changes in environmental conditions have led to extinction of several wildlife species in forests, coral reefs etc. Rising carbon dioxide emissions lead to rising sea levels, ocean temperatures and ocean acidification. These changes bring in frequent droughts, extreme weather conditions affecting the equilibrium and natural balance.

Almost all countries have come together for climate change under the umbrella of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The convention aims to “prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”. It has instructed policy makers that there is much greater risk to human and natural systems if the warming goes above 1.5 °C compared to pre-industrial levels. Under the Paris Agreement, nations have made climate pledges to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but even after following those, global warming would still reach about 2.8 °C by 2100. To prevent this from happening and limit the warming to 1.5 °C, methane emissions need to decrease to near-zero levels and carbon dioxide emissions should reach net-zero by the year 2050.

Governments should act immediately and policies should be constructed to reduce fossil fuel emissions, increase reforestation, forest prevention, use of low carbon energy technologies, food preservation. All societies should work together towards dealing with future global warming problems in a scientific way. Development of more resistant crops, better disaster management should also be considered.

Several international movements have taken place like Fridays For Future where school students take time off from school to aware people and demand climate change action from governments. They demand action from political leaders of the world for the fossil fuel industry to convert to renewable energy and take immediate measures for climate change. This movement was publicised after Greta Thunberg started a protest outside the Swedish parliament with a poster saying “School strike for climate”. She is an environmental activist who has spoken at several internationally recognised platforms. She started her journey as an activist from the time when she had convinced her parents to change their lifestyle for reducing their carbon footprint. She is known for her straight forward manner of speaking at public platforms and criticizing world leaders for their failure to address climate change. She has participated in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (2018) and UN Climate Action Summit (2019). She has also got several awards and made it into the Forbes list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women (2019). Though her popularity at such a young age has made her a target of critics, but she continues to work and struggle towards her goal with indomitable spirit.

Earthquakes

An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth’s outer layer push the sides of the fault together. Stress builds up and the rocks slips suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the earth’s crust and cause the shaking. An Earthquake occurs when plates grind and scrape against each other. India lies at the northwestern end of the IndoAustralian Plate, which encompasses India, Australia, a major portion of the Indian Ocean and other small countries. This plate is colliding against the huge Eurasian Plate and going under the Eurasian Plate,this process of one tectonic plate getting under another is responsible for making India a earthquake prone country. A number of significant earthquakes occured in and around India over the past century. Some of these occured in populated and urbanized areas and hence caused great damage. Many went unnoticed, as they occurred deep under the Earth’s surface or in relatively un-inhabited places. The varying geology at different locations in the country implies that the likelihood of damaging earthquakes taking place at different locations is different. Thus, a seismic zone map is required to identify these regions.

Bureau of Indian Standards, based on the past seismic history, grouped the country into four seismic zones, Zone – 2,-3,-4and 5. Of these, zone 5 is the most seismically active region, while zone 2 is the least. The Modified Mercalli(MM) intensity, which measures the impact of the earthquakes on the surface of the earth, broadly associated with various zones, is as follows.

Cyclone

Cyclonic storm is caused by atmospheric disturbances around a low-pressure area and is usually accompanied by violent storms and severe weather conditions. Cyclone is derived from the greek word cyclos – coiling of snake. Tropical Cyclone is a deep low pressure area from around the center the strong winds, spirals and pick up the speeds of 62 kmph or more. In Northern hemisphere these winds rotate counter clock wise and in Southern hemisphere clockwise. The tropical cyclones that are intense are known as huricanes Over the Atlantic Ocean and typhoons over the pacific ocean. They are know by different names for example dust devils, supercell thunderstorm, tomadoes, tropical cyclones, extra tropical cyclones etc. On the basis of the speed of the wind cyclones are classified into 5 different categories.

According to the category of the cyclone the wind speed varies that is from 60 km an hour to about 220 kmph and above. When the speed of the wind around the low pressure area reach upto 60 kmph it is known as tropical cyclone and the name is assigned. When wind speed settles between 89 and 118 kmph, it turns into a severe Cyclonic storm. When wind blows at a speed of about 119 to 221 kmph then it is known as very severe Cyclonic storm and when the speed of the wind exceeds 221kmph then the cyclone is known as supercyclonic storm. The word meteorological organization (WMO) has a well defined process to select the name of each cyclone.

A cyclone named fani is a massive Cyclonic formation over the south of bay of Bengal which made landfall in odisha.

Cyclone like ookhi hit parts of kerala, tamil nadu, sri lanka, and maldives at 185kmph with total fatalities of 245 in kerala that time around 80 fisherman were killed and 140 people were reported missing. In 2018 cyclone gaja also made landfall in Nagapattinam ‘s vedaranyam block and killed around 46 people. In 2019 vayu in the Arabian Sea.

The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth’s North and South poles in each Hemisphere. The term refers to the counter clockwise flow of air that helps the colder air close to the poles. Often during winter in the Northern hemisphere the polar vortex will become less stable and expand senting cold artic air southward over the East of US with the jet stream. One exist in the troposphere where we live and where the weather happens. The other exists in the second lowest, called the stratosphere, which is a shroud of thin air that gets warmer at higher altitudes. The tropospheric polar vortex is the one that affects our weather with piercing shots of cold, intense bouts of storminous and bitter wind chills reaching upto 80°Celsius.

Environment Scan

The world is a greener place today than it was 20 years ago. NASA used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) to get a detailed picture of Earth’s global vegetation through time. The technique provided up to 500 meter resolution for the past two decades.

According to NASA, in contrast to the perception that China and India are over exploiting land, water and resources for economic gain, the countries are responsible for the largest greening of the planet in the past two decades. China and India implemented besides infusion of technology around agriculture. India broke world records in tree planting, with 800000 Indians planting 50 million trees in just 24 hours.

The NASA’s high resolution imagery published in the journal Nature Sustainability, allowed comparison of satellite data :mid-1990s-2019.Initially,the researchers wondered about the significant greening around the planet. Was it due to a warming planet, increased CO2 or a wetter climate that could have caused more plants to grow. Further investigation of the satellite imagery, helped find the disproportionate greening in China and India. If the greening was primarily a response from climate change and a warming planet, the increase vegetation wouldn’t be limited to country borders. Besides, higher latitude regions should also become greener faster than lower latitudes as permafrost melts and areas like Northern Russia become more habitable.

The United States stands 7th in the total change in vegetation percent by decade. It is encouraging to see swift and rapid change in governance and land use.

Electronic waste comprises waste electronics/electrical goods that are not fit for their originally intended use or have reached their end of life. This may include items such as mobile phones, computers, monitors, calculators, CDs, printers, scanners, copiers, battery cells, Radio, TVs, medical apara and electronic components besides white goods such as refrigerators and air conditioners which contain hazardous constituents, although e-waste itself is not harmful. E – waste also contains recoverable value materials like copper, silver, gold and platinum. The harmful materials contained in electronic products are heavy metals such as lead, barium and cadmium which are harmful to health if they enter the water bodies. These materials can cause damage to the human nervous and respiratory systems.

India is among the world’s largest consumers of mobile phones and produces more than 1.5 million tonnes of e-waste each year. Most consumers are still unaware of how to dispose of their e-waste. E-waste Rules, 2016,was enacted on 1 oct 2017,further strengthening the existing rules.

Animal Cruelty: Are Humans Losing Their Humanity?

Imagine you were the one being tested on, imagine your skin being torn off alive, imagine your arms and legs being ripped off while still alive, imagine being burnt alive, fellow classmates even imagine losing your life, just so you can satisfy other species. Doesn’t sound fun, does it?

Now imagine this, you are a poor soul who has been searching for food everywhere. Suddenly, your happiness sees no bound as you see pineapple lying in front of you. You thank god and people for feeding such a delicacy amidst long hunger. You gulp that in one bite and feel inside of your body hurting and burning. You soon realize it was not just a pineapple. You run for water to soothe down the internal wound and burning. You stand in water for hours in oblivion just to face one reality – that now only death can relieve this burning. If reading this makes your stomach churn, you might understand the pain that poor soul went through which for some people was a mere ‘elephant’. What makes it even more disheartening that the elephant was pregnant and yet had to spend her last few hours standing in the water waiting for death so that to leave this cruel world in solace.

In yet another instance of cruelty towards animals, a monkey was hanged to death from a tree in Telangana’s Khammam district.

Animals – creatures that are considered fit for human cruelty. Hitting dogs, throwing bricks at speechless animals and taming them forcefully for circuses has become common news now. It is time we re-emphasized the need for animal rights to protect and safeguard their lives from humans.

It’s blood curling that there exist some people who intentionally hurt animals because they enjoy hurting things, or because it makes them feel powerful. Some, love the control they possess over these helpless creatures. While, there are others who simply enjoy pain and violence.

It should be noted that intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people. (HSLF). Any psychologist or police officer can ascertain you that animal cruelty is a precursor to criminally violent behavior toward humans. There are plenty of laws against cruelty to animals as well. Thus, Outright cruelty, harm to a living creature for no other purpose than the cruelty itself, is definitely prohibited and while not punishable to the extent that human cruelty is punishable, it is considered a serious indicator of a disordered mind and a dangerous person.

There are very strict guidelines laid down by the Indian government. Like, the animal should have rested before being slaughtered, an animal should not be killed in front of the other animals, no pregnant animal can be killed and all the animals should be diagnosed by the veterinarian before butchering them. The veterinarian must allow only the healthy animals to be slaughtered but all of it is on paper. All the strict laws have no strict implementation due to lack of will. There will surely be reduction in the rate of animal cruelty if these laws are implemented strictly!

We need to begin with our own selves without expecting any kind of new policies or laws to protect animals. Regularly keeping a bowl of fresh water outside your house and feeding the street animals. Such small activities would provide street animals with basic survival needs in the harsh city life.

Are we going to realize this any soon that we are a part of an ecosystem where human, plants, animals, insects, and microorganisms, all have to live together without harming each other? It’s generally only the humans that are less tolerant towards animals, plants, insets, etc. whereas, the rest simply seek for a peaceful existence.

Ghost Orchid: The rarest Orchid in the world.

We all know orchids as exotic, classy and high-maintenance blooms. But I’m sure you haven’t heard of ghost orchids which sway to the breeze in night, trance and mesmerize you with its ethereal beauty. Well, fret not, even faint-hearted can enjoy the beauty of these blooms too!

It is the phantom of orchid family and looks nothing like its siblings. It doesn’t have chlorophyll and leaves. It poses like a ghost whenever you try to click it. But what do these characteristics make it? A die-hard, born-to-survive miracle that makes its way through all odds and shines like a star!

The florets don’t have chlorophyll and hence, are white in nature. When they move in night, they look like creepy ghosts floating in air and thus, the name ghost orchids. The plant is also leafless and depends on the other tree to make food. The pond apple trees, palm trees, mild temperature, optimum shade and high humidity make South Florida the perfect habitat for them. The roots of plants do the photosynthesis and cling to the trunks trees like cypress, maples and pond apples. The plants remain in a symbiotic relation with mycorrhizal fungus, without which they can’t survive. The fungus needs sugar from the plant and in exchange, it provides and gathers nutrients for it. If the plants aren’t infected by the fungus in the wild, they won’t germinate and will be dead eventually.The blooming season for the plant is June to August. One to ten flowers are bloomed, with only one flower opening at a time. The scent of plant resembles apple’s fragrance. The lower petal gives the illusion of jumping frog and the bracts of the flowers are almost paper-like, and thin. The roots of the orchid cling with such intensity that not only it is difficult to tell them apart but also it makes for a display of flower floating in the middle of nowhere, eventually lending the flowers a ghost illusion.

Though, the plant doesn’t have any chlorophyll, it is an abundant source of nectar. The pollination of the flowers is done by sphinx moth in night that is lured by nectar. Sphinx has long tongue (proboscis) that lets it reach the nectar sap located deep within. The moth goes from one plant to another in the search of nectar, and transfers the pollen as a result. But due to human intervention in the natural habitat of ghost orchids, the pollination alone doesn’t remain as a reliable and viable option for this endangered flora species. Given their unique appearance, the over-collection of the flowers by flower enthusiasts are also to be blamed for the rapid decline in their population besides hydrological changes and habitat destruction by humans. In fact, its sightings became too rare that it was declared ‘lost and extinct’ in Britain in the year 2010.Scientists have found a new way to culture and process plants from seed to the lab. The plants, so far, have successfully acclimatized to the greenhouse environment. The ghost orchids also showed high rates of survival when planted to wild as well. Out of 80 plants, 70 orchids survived the natural habitat at Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Collier County, Florida. The biologists also found success with ghost orchids planted at the Naples Botanical Garden.

1. Manali, Himachal Pradesh

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2. Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir

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3. Darjeeling, West Bengal

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4. Ooty, Tamil Nadu

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5. Munnar, Kerala

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6. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

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7. Coorg, Karnataka

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8. Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh

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India of my dreams……… Where the bell of happiness rings,where the birds in harmony sings.

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